Hood latch



Nov. 30, 1926. 1,609,165

c. B. GILMORE HOOD LATCH Filed August- 24,v 1925.

Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES Bi GILMORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO FORGING & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION F ILLINOIS.

Hooi) LATCH.

Application filed August 24, 1925. Serial No. 51,907.

My invention relates to a fastening device and particularly to a' device intended for use as an automobile hood latch. One object of the invention is to provide a device which il will be used as a hood latch and which, while serving to hold the hood down and closed, will also force the hood inwardly against'its abutment and will thus hold the hood against rattling. Another object is to l@ provide a hood latch whichoperates independently of variations lin position of the hood. Another object is to provide an im'- proved linger or hand hold means for such a latch. Another object is to provide imti proved means for securing a spring in such a latch. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

My invention-is illustrated more or-less 2U diagrammatically in the drawings wherein- Figure 1 is` a side elevation of my latch showing it in position on the automobile Figure 2 is a front view of my latch, in position, and illustrating various positions which it may assume;

1 Flilgure 3 is a vertical section through my atc v Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the lines 4 4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the upper part of my latch, showing a modified form; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing a still further modification.

Like parts are designated by like charactors throughout the specification and drawings.

A is a portion of an automobile frame. to it may be fastened an upstanding rib or rim 40 or abutment member A1, against which abuts the lower edge B of the hood cover when the hood is closed. Fastened to the hood B isa member B1 terminating in a conic cam section B2. Mounted above the cam B2 on the locking section and herein shown as integral with it is the hook element B3 having the upwardly projecting forked members B4 B4 separated by the aperture or slot B5.

C is any suitable shaft or pin terminating with the above member C1 .adapted to be seated in and to be contained by the socket member C2 secured to the frame A. The upper end of the pin C is necked as at C3 or otherwise shaped to engage and secure any suitable washer o1' collar C4. Surrounding. the

between the collar C* and the lower end of the cylinder D, and thus adapted normally to thrust the cylinder D downwardly along the pin C. The lower end of the spring D1 is engaged for example by the washer D2 which in turn is seated by the spring washer D3, the edges of which engage the circumferential recess D4 about the bottom of the cylinder D.

E is a cam lug outwardly projecting from the cylinder D and adapted to engage the conic cam member B2 on the lhood B. Fil is a T-shaped lug outwardly projecting from the cylinder D above the cam E, the stem of the lug adapted to be slidably positioned between the hook members B4, the cross bar of the T being adapted to engage them to prevent outward and side swinging movement of the cylinder D.

At'the upper end of the cylinder D is positionedv a finger ring G from which downwardly projects the lip G1. Referring to Figure 5 I employ instead of a single fingerY ringr G the double rings or loops G2 Gs each adapted to admit a finger. y Referring to Figure 6 the finger ring G is positioned to overlie the top of the cylinder D, a form desirable when maximum length of` latch is desired or when the latch must work in a laterally restricted space.

It will be realized that whereas I have illustrated a practical and operative device that'nevertheless many changesmay be made in the size, shape, number, proportion and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative rather than as limiting me to my specific showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

When the hood is to be released the latch handle is raised and the locking cam portion E is lifted from engagement with the cam* B2 and the T-shaped cam E1 is lifted from engagement with the hooks B4. The whole latch may then be swung back freely in any direction, and the hood may be raised. When the latch is again to be used, the hood is closed, the fore finger is passed through the ring G, the second finger engages the lower portion of the ring and the 11p G1 and the entire latch is easily lifted, the fingers being spaced away from danger-s proximity to the 'opposed hooks and cams. The latch is then positioned with the cam E in engagement with the opposed cam B2 on the hood and with the T-shaped lug El lying between the hook members B4 on the hood. `When the handle is released the cam presses upon the opposed inclined face of the cam' B2 and thrusts the` hood both downwardly and inwardly, thus at the same time holding it securely closed and preventing its rattling; The downward pressure `ot the spring -D thrusts the cam E downwardly and outwardly along the cam surface B2, loclrs the keys aped cam El securelyjagainst the hooks B4, and prevents outward movement of the latch away from the hood. The pressure ot the spring makes it impossible for the latch to work loose and a constant downward and inward thrust or pressure is insured.

The pin C, being mounted for universal movement on the trame A does not constrain the latch to any particular position, and the position of the latch is determined by the position of the cam B2 and the hooks B". rll`he result is a particularly flexible and adaptable latch which operates independently of changes in the relative position of the hood B and the abutment A1, since the latch can freely swing about the pivot or socket member C2, to take any position, and since the spring D1 is operative irrespective of changes in position of the latch or cam'.

Referring to Figure 4 the engagement of the T-shaped lug E1 with the two members B4 on each side thereot1 prevents side swinging of the latch as a whole, that is to say, vprevents its rotation about an axis positioned at the end of the T.

I claim:

l. In combination with an automobile, a hood, a latch member mounted adjacent said hood, means for holding said latch member against swinging movement outwardly from said hood when it is in latchingengagement, comprising a T-shaped lug on said latch and members on said hood adapted to engage the arms of said lug, and a cam connection between said latch and said hood adapted to direct pressure both downwardly and inwardly against said hood, in response to downward movement of said latch.

2. In combination with a closure and a latch for said closure, yielding means for holdingr said latch in engagement with said v closure, a cam connection between latch and closure including an inclined faced cam outwardly projecting from said latch and opposed interconnecting members on latch and closure spaced above said cam.

3. In combination with a closure and a latch for said closure; yielding means for holding said latch in engagement with said losure, a cam connection between latch and closure including an inclined faced cam outwardly projecting from said latch, a T- shaped memberoutwardly projecting from said latch and spaced above said cam, and a member on the closure adapted to engage the ends of the cross bar of said T.

4. Inl combination with a closure and a latch for said closure, yielding means for holding said latch in engagement with said closure, a cam connection between latch and closure including an inclined faced cam lug outwardly projecting from said latch, a "l"- shaped lug outwardly projecting from said latch and spaced above said canL lug, and member on the closure adapted slidingly to engage said T-shape-d lug.

5. An automobile hood latch comprising a latch body, a pin along which it is slid ably mounted and yielding means for thrusting it normally downwardly therealong, a cam lug and a separate locking lug vertically spaced along said latch, and opposed cam and locking lugs upon the automobile hood.

6. An vautomobile hood latch comprising a latch body, a pin along which it is slidably mounted and yielding means for thrusting it normally downwardly therealong, a cam lug and a separate locking lug vertically spaced along said latch, and opposed cam and locking lugs upon the automobile hood, a finger ring positioned upon said latch and a ringer engaging lip downwardly and outwardly projecting from the lower side thereof.

7. An automobile. hood laten com rising a hollow latch body, a pin along w ich it is slidably mounted, a spiral spring coiled about said pin, a spring abutment associated with the upper portion of said 'pin and a spring abutment associated with the bottom of said latch body, the latter comprising in part a spring washer, the inner wall of the body being formed to receive it.

8. An automobile hood latch comprising a latch body, a spring and an abutment for said spring, comprising in part an expandible retaining member, the wall of said latch body being formed to receive it.

9. In combination with an automobile hood, a latch member mounted adjacent said hood, means for holding said latch member against movement away from said hood when in latching engagement, comprising a T-shaped member on said latch and members on said hood adapted to engage and receive the Iends of the cross bar of said "i".

10. In combination with an automobile hood, a latch member mounted adjacent said hood, means for holding said latch member against side swinging movement in relation to said hood when in latching engagement, comprising a T-shaped member on said latch and members on said hood adapted to engage and receive the ends ot the cross bar of said T.

11. An automobile hood latch comprising Sti litt? a latch body, a latch member thereon adapted to engage the hood, yielding means normally moving said latch member vin one direction, and means for lifting it in the opposite direction, comprising a finger ring positioned upon it and a linger engaging lip projecting therefrom.

.12. An automobile hood latch comprising a latch body, a latch member thereon adapt- 10 ed to engage the'hood, yielding means normally moving said latch member in one di-i rection, and means for lifting it in the (ppofinsite direction, comprising a plurality o ger engaging elements vertically aligned along said latch member.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 18th day of August 1925.

CHARLES B.' GILMORE. 

